Catching a cold
Colds are infections of the nose and throat (the upper respiratory tract). Symptoms are typically minor. There are more than 200 different respiratory viruses that can cause a cold; rhinoviruses are the most common.
Colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely as colds are highly contagious. When someone has a cold, there is a lot of the cold-causing virus in their nose and throat. If the person coughs or sneezes, they can spray the virus into the air and infect other people directly.
If the person with the cold coughs or sneezes on objects, or on their hands, those things can carry the virus, too. Cold viruses can live for many hours on objects like toys, door handles, telephones, pens, tissues and more. If a healthy person picks up an object covered with cold germs, then touches their nose, mouth or eyes, they can catch the virus.
Cold viruses are around all year long, but we seem to get more colds in the winter. This is because we spend more time indoors in the winter, so we're in closer proximity to other people and to their germs.
If you are tired, in poor physical condition, exposed to some air pollutants or have a chronic lung disease like asthma or COPD, you may get colds easier.
Symptoms of a cold
Symptoms occur between one and three days after a cold virus enters the body.
These symptoms typically include:
- Runny nose or congestion
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Mild headache
- Cough
A cold may last for about one week, but some colds last longer, especially in children, the elderly and those in poor health.
Treating a cold
The common cold does not have a treatment but should get better on its own.
Over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief of symptoms and help you feel better. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a cold symptom medication that's right for you.
You should also get lots of rest and drink plenty of water.
If you smoke, cut down or quit to help you get over your cold faster.
Contact a Healthcare Provider if:
- you have a temperature higher than 38ºC (100.4ºF)
- your symptoms last more than 10 days and/or
- your symptoms are not relieved by over-the-counter medicines.
Antibiotics are not useful for treating a cold and should only be taken to treat bacterial complications that arise from it. If you are concerned you have a bacterial complication, discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Complications
Being infected by a cold virus can pave the way for other infections to invade the body, including sinus or ear infections and acute bronchitis.
A common complication is a sinus infection with a prolonged cough. If you have asthma or COPD (including chronic bronchitis or emphysema), you may have worse symptoms for many weeks even after the cold has gone away.
If you are concerned about your symptoms, speak to your healthcare provider.
Talk to a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
- Unusually severe cold symptoms;
- High fever or a fever that lasts longer than 4 days;
- Dehydration
- Difficulty breathing;
- Symptoms that last more than 10 days without getting better;
- Cough that gets worse while other cold symptoms improve; or
- Flare-up of any chronic lung condition, such as asthma (and make sure to follow your Action Plan)